What You Need To Know About Total Knee Replacement

If you have done everything you can to find some relief from your knee pain, but you are still experiencing knee pain, now is the time to look into total knee replacement. Unlike assistive devices, cortisone shots, modifying your activities, and so on, total knee replacement is not a band-aid solution. It will give you lasting relief from pain and a genuine return to mobility.

When you are having problems with stair climbing, walking, standing up, sitting down, and even resting comfortably, you know the time has come to make some real decisions regarding the relief of your knee pain.

Total knee replacement surgery is one of the most popular surgeries in the world for good reason. This technique has been around since’68. It was a boon for orthopedic surgery when it first came into use, and it has only improved in every way since that time. With modern techniques and top-of-the-line materials, over 581,000 patients a year are able to find relief from knee pain in the U.S.

Have you spoken with your orthopedic surgeon about knee replacement yet, or are you just starting to think about it? Either way, you are sure to find useful information in this article.

Click here for more on total knee replacement surgery .

How Is The Knee Put Together?

The shin bone, the knee cap, and the thigh bone are the main components of the knee. In medical terminology, these are called the tibia, the patella, and the femur. Your knee is in almost constant use, and it is the largest joint in your body. For these reasons, you are highly likely to injure your knee or experience some wear and tear at some point in your life.

Four ligaments attach the femur and tibia and support and stabilize the knee. They are the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments and the medial and lateral collateral ligaments.

The muscles of the thigh also play a strong part in the strength and stability of the knee. Strong thigh muscles mean strong knees.

Articular cartilage forms a pad between the bones of the knee. This pad keeps the bones separated and allows them to move without grinding against each other. With this smooth cushioning your knee can move smoothly and easily. Additionally, the knee comes equipped with natural shock absorbers called the lateral menisci. These are semicircular, fibrous cartilage rings that add stability to the overall structure.

All of the bones of the knee are lined with synovial membrane. This thin, smooth tissue makes a special lubricant that keeps all of the parts of the knee operating smoothly.

All of these parts should work well together and give you a lifetime of painless service. However, because the knee is the most used and most often injured joint in the body, this is often not the case. An injury or illness such as arthritis can throw this delicate balance off. This can cause you loss of mobility and strength, as well as a great deal of pain.

The average age of knee replacement patients is 60-80. But this is not a cut-off number. There have also been very young patients who have found relief from juvenile arthritis, as well as very old patients who have found relieve from degenerative arthritis. When you are evaluated as a candidate, your orthopedic surgeon will look at your level of disability and the amount of pain you are experiencing – not your age.

Dr. Tarlow is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon with over 20 years specializing in knee surgery. He opened his own clinic, Advanced Knee Care, with a focus on specialty patient care. Click here to learn more about Dr. Tarlow, arthroscopic surgeon and torn ACL surgery.

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